The Merchant of Venice Page #7

I pray you,

think you question with the Jew:

You may as well go stand upon the beach

and bid the main flood lower

its usual height.

(Sighs)

You may as well question with the wolf

why he has made

the ewe bleat for the lamb.

You may as well do anything most hard

as seek to soften that

than which what's harder, his Jewish heart.

Therefore I do beseech you, make

no more offers, use no farther means,

but with all just and plain conveniency

let me have judgment

and the Jew his will.

(All) No! No!

You loaned three thousand ducats.

Here is six.

(Crowd gasps)

If every ducat in six thousand ducats

were in six parts and every part a ducat

I would not draw them,

I would have my bond.

(Duke) How shall you hope for mercy,

giving none?

What judgment should I fear,

doing no wrong?

You have among you

many a purchased slave,

which like your asses

and your dogs and mules,

you use in abject and in slavish parts

because you bought them.

Shall I say to you, let them be free?

Marry them to your heirs.

Why sweat they under burdens?

Let their beds be made as soft as yours.

Their palates seasoned with your food.

You will answer, "The slaves are ours. "

So do I answer you.

The pound of flesh that I demand of him

is dearly bought.

'Tis mine.

'Tis mine!

'Tis mine.

And I will have it.

If you deny me, fie upon your law.

There is no force in the decrees of Venice.

I stand for judgment.

Answer.

- Shall I have it?

- (Crowd gasp)

(Crowd shouting)

Silence! Silence!

Silence! Upon my power

I may dismiss this court

unless Bellario, a learned doctor

that I have sent for to determine this,

- come here today.

- My lord!

Here stays without a messenger

with letters from the doctor

new come from Padua.

Come you from Padua, from old Bellario?

From both, my lord.

Bellario greets your grace.

Why do you whet your knife so earnestly?

To cut the forfeiture

from that bankrupt there.

Can no prayers pierce you?

No, none that you have

wit enough to make.

Be you damned, inexecrable dog

and for your life let justice be accused.

Till you can rail the seal from off my bond,

you but offend your lungs

to speak so loud.

Prepare your wit, good youth,

or it will fall to cureless ruin.

I stand here for law.

- I stand for law!

- Silence! Silence!

(Crowd quietens)

This letter does commend

a young and learned doctor to our court.

- Well, where is he?

- He attendeth here hard by

to know your answer,

whether you'll admit him.

Go, give him

courteous conduct to this place.

Meantime, the court

shall hear Bellario's letter.

"Your grace shall understand that

at the receipt of your letter, I am very sick

"but in the instant your messenger came

there was with me a young doctor of Rome

"whose name is Balthasar.

"He comes at my asking to take my place.

"I beseech you,

let his lack of years be no impediment,

"for I never knew so young a body

with so old a head.

"I leave him to your gracious acceptance. "

You heard Bellario, what he writes.

Oh, and here, I take it, is the doctor come.

You are welcome.

Take your place.

Are you acquainted with the difference that

holds this present question in the court?

I am informed thoroughly of the case.

Which is the merchant here

and which the Jew?

Antonio and old Shylock, both stand forth.

- Is your name Shylock?

- Shylock is my name.

Of a strange nature is the suit you follow,

yet in such rule that the Venetian law

cannot deny you as you do proceed.

- You stand within his power, do you not?

- Ay, so he says.

- Do you confess the bond?

- I do.

Then must the Jew be merciful.

On what compulsion must I? Tell me that.

The quality of mercy is not strained,

it droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven

upon the place beneath.

It is twice blessed -

it blesseth him that gives

and him that takes.

'Tis mightiest in the mighty.

It becomes the throned monarch

better than his crown.

His sceptre shows the force

of temporal power,

the attribute to awe and majesty wherein

doth sit the dread and fear of kings.

But mercy is above this sceptred sway.

It is enthroned in the heart of kings.

It is an attribute to God himself

and earthly power doth then show

likest God's

when mercy seasons justice.

Therefore, Jew,

though justice be your plea,

consider this.

That in the course of justice,

none of us should see salvation.

We do pray for mercy

and that same prayer doth teach us all

to render the deeds of mercy.

I have spoke thus much

to mitigate the justice of your plea,

which if you follow

this strict course of Venice

must needs give sentence

against the merchant there.

My deeds upon my head.

I crave the law,

the penalty and forfeit of my bond.

- Is he not able to discharge the money?

- Yes, here I tender it for him in court,

yea, twice the sum.

If that is not enough,

I will be bound to pay it ten times o'er

on forfeit of my hands, my head, my heart!

If this is not enough it must appear

that malice bears down on truth.

I beseech you,

wrest once the law to your authority -

to do a great right, do a little wrong

and curb this cruel devil of his will.

It must not be. There is no power in Venice

can alter a decree established.

'Twill be recorded for a precedent

and many an error of the same example

will rush into the state.

- It cannot be.

- A Daniel come to judgment.

Yea, a Daniel.

O wise young judge, how I do honour you.

I pray you, let me look upon the bond.

Most reverend doctor, here it is.

Shylock, there is twice the money

offered you.

An oath, an oath.

I have an oath in heaven.

Shall I lay perjury upon my soul?

No. Not for Venice.

Why, this bond is forfeit

and lawfully at this time

the Jew may claim a pound of flesh

to be by him cut off

nearest the merchant's heart.

Be merciful.

Take twice your money,

bid me tear the bond.

When it is paid, according to the terms.

Most heartily I do beseech the court

to give the judgment.

(Whispering)

Then thus it is. You must prepare

your bosom for his knife.

O noble judge, excellent young man.

For the intent and purpose of the law

has full relation to the penalty

which here appeareth due upon the bond.

'Tis very true, O wise and upright judge.

How much more elder are you

than you look.

- Therefore, lay bare your bosom.

- Ay, his breast.

So says the bond, does it not,

noble judge?

Nearest the heart.

- Those are the very words.

- It is so.

Are there balances here

to weigh the flesh?

I have them here.

(Crowd gasp)

(Knife unsheathing)

Have by some surgeon, Shylock,

on your charge

to stop his wounds

lest he should bleed to death.

Is it so nominated in the bond?

It is not so expressed but what of that?

'Twere good you do so much for charity.

I cannot find it. 'Tis not in the bond.

You, merchant, have you anything to say?

But little.

I am armed and well prepared.

Give me your hand, Bassanio.

Fare thee well.

Grieve not that I am fallen to this for you.

For herein doth Fortune show herself

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